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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 02:02 PM Jun 2014

Why It Matters That Politicians Have No Experience of Poverty

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/06/why-it-matters-that-politicians-have-no-experience-of-poverty/371857/

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There were a dozen eggs, three mangoes, and six black plums, and that was a problem. The family in the bodega line would have to cut something from the bags waiting on the check out belt—the modest haul overspent the Women, Infants, Children food-assistance voucher good for only a portion of their appetite. The clerk removed three plums and placed them on the far side of the register, declining an offer of safekeeping from a family member she deemed had other intentions.

Perhaps you’ve seen a similar case of nutritional triage; perhaps you’ve experienced it yourself. In the age of increased economic segregation, though, there’s a good chance haven’t. If you grow up in suburbia and live in higher-income urban enclaves, as I have, EBT food purchases—and the resulting sacrifices—are likely alien. Following deliberations about food assistance and other poverty programs is no substitute for watching human need contend with stark reality.

But my personal understanding is mostly inconsequential. Whether the officials in charge of poverty policy understand it is more important. Given the acceleration of economic segregation and monetization of elections, the chances are slim. On issues of the most basic needs, politicians have the least experience—and that comes at a cost.

For the first time, more than half of the members of Congress are millionaires. Nearly 200 are multimillionaires. One hundred are worth more than $5 million; the top-10 deal in nine digits. The annual congressional salary alone—$174,000 a year—qualifies every member as the top 6 percent of earners. None of them are close to experiencing the poverty-reduction programs—affordable housing, food assistance, Medicaid—that they help control. Though some came from poverty, a recent analysis by Nicholas Carnes, in his book White Collar Government: The Hidden Role of Class in Economic Policymaking, found that only 13 out of 783 members of Congress from 1999 to 2008 came from a “blue-collar” upbringing. None of them have experienced that poverty in decades; those who did did so under vastly different public-policy circumstances.

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Why It Matters That Politicians Have No Experience of Poverty (Original Post) xchrom Jun 2014 OP
The majority of America has not experienced "real poverty" yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #1
Wow. Way to miss the point here ENTIRELY. closeupready Jun 2014 #4
Obviously you may have yeoman6987 Jun 2014 #5
I know there's little chance it would happen tech3149 Jun 2014 #2
Maybe some on them could go on record War Horse Jun 2014 #3
I Don't Think RobinA Jun 2014 #8
I agree on that LeftishBrit Jun 2014 #10
Thanks for this xchrom riderinthestorm Jun 2014 #6
... xchrom Jun 2014 #7
And most could not care less. nt Mnemosyne Jun 2014 #9
My congressman is one of the 13 w/a blue collar background PotatoChip Jun 2014 #11
 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
1. The majority of America has not experienced "real poverty"
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 02:20 PM
Jun 2014

I know I haven't, but that does not mean I can't sympathize with those that have and maybe even try to understand what they are going through. We also have a ton of folks who never served in the military, but these are the folks that are sending troops to war. Should we make it that only those who serve in the military run for at least national office? there are a lot of "nots" that most people have not experienced. Should not take them out of the running. We have the requirements to run for office and adding to them would take out a lot of good folks. Heck most likely a very small amount of House and Senate has actually experienced "real poverty".

tech3149

(4,452 posts)
2. I know there's little chance it would happen
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 02:28 PM
Jun 2014

but I think all elected representatives should have to live for at least a month on minimum wage. Even better, get that job with no references and not using any of their life contacts.
Once you know how hard it is to be poor I don't think most people would ever forget that lesson.

War Horse

(931 posts)
3. Maybe some on them could go on record
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 02:38 PM
Jun 2014

And volunteer to not eat anything for, say, three days? Not the same thing, I know, but it would get them a taste (bad choice of words, possibly...) of the real thing.

RobinA

(9,878 posts)
8. I Don't Think
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 03:51 PM
Jun 2014

they would have to go so far as to live in poverty for a period of time. I'm a social worker who has worked in the community going into people's houses and seeing their problems. I don't pretend to be an expert, but I do have some insight into the daily life that people experience and the problems they experience that are not necessarily ones that people on the outside would think of. When it comes to making policy, representatives would be greatly helped just from some feet on the ground for awhile in all the wrong neighborhoods.

For example, no one really thinks to mention the "problem" of not being able to buy laundry detergent and other cleaning supplies with food stamps. It's not an earth-shattering social problem, but it has repercussions. There are a million microproblems like that every day in no income life that have an effect on these people's ability to function in what is considered an acceptable way.

LeftishBrit

(41,190 posts)
10. I agree on that
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 04:20 PM
Jun 2014

One of our Tory politicians, Michael Portillo, was challenged to change places for a week with a working-class single mother, doing her two low-paid jobs while looking after her four children on her earnings. He just about got through the week; and though he did not exactly become a leftie, he moved from being one of the most right-wing Tories to one of the most liberal ones.

 

riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)
6. Thanks for this xchrom
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 02:56 PM
Jun 2014


Your persistence in raising poverty issues isn't lost on me. Your one of the few posters worth reading every time.


K&R

PotatoChip

(3,186 posts)
11. My congressman is one of the 13 w/a blue collar background
Mon Jun 2, 2014, 04:39 PM
Jun 2014

-mentioned in the article.

He worked in a paper mill for a couple of decades or more. It was a union job, so he did better than many in this area, but still, he punched a time-card every day... And, though I can't say for sure (too time-crunched to do the google thing at the moment)- it's my understanding that his beginnings were even more humble.

He's running for Governor now, and seems to be doing very well in the polls, despite a 3rd party candidate in the race; the one who gave us LePage by splitting the D vote in 2010. I'm going to do whatever I can to help Mike Michaud become our next Governor. He's a great guy, and beyond that, we've got to get LePage out!

Sorry to have gotten a bit off topic... It's a good article and sadly, too true for most politicians on the federal level.

K&R

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